Tuesday, August 31, 2010

This is the first post I have written while back at school! I haven't had a single minute of down time until now, and I will finally show you my super tiny room in my sorority house! Move in actually went quite well, I have the packing down to a science, so everything went off without a hitch.
When you come into the room there are 2 beds, 2 closets, 2 desks, and 2 dressers. Everything else you have to bring in yourself such as a hutch for over the desk, a refrigerator, TV, etc. This is the smallest room I have had so far (you'd think it would be the biggest because of seniority, but oh no!). But I don't have any complaints about it, my stuff actually all fit quite nicely, and I am so happy to be surrounded by sorority sisters. So without further adieu, here is my room!

This is my bed and desk area. I still need to adjust the bed skirt because it is not covering the end of the bed (I hate when you can see everything stored under my bed)! I also forgot my green down comforter from the company store and am having my mom ship that down to me because the yellow blanket at the end of my bed is not comfortable and cozy for napping!

This is another corner of the room. I was so afraid that the refrigerator was not going to fit, but thankfully we squeezed it in.The shoe pockets are an absolute must, especially in a small room like mine. The pockets on the back of the door hold my curling irons and straighteners and are a good way to have things easily accessible.

This is a close up of the hutch storage over my desk.I got these baskets from Marshalls and they are perfect for holding medicine, headbands, and computer accessories. They also help to keep the clutter to a minimum.

This is so you can see the dresser part (sorry that the picture isn't very direct!). I added my jewelry storage, and lotions and perfumes onto the dresser with a fun "S" hanging on the wall.

I still have some mini improvements to work on but for the most part this is it! If you've showed off your college room on your blog, leave me a link in the comments section so I can take a look! Have a fabulous day!
Yours,
sCe

Monday, August 30, 2010

Today I head to my first day of class for the fall 2010 semester! I am taking so many neat classes, some very hard, but I am up for the challenge! Wish me luck! To all of those who start classes, or start taking their little ones to school today, I wish you all the best of luck on a successful and fun filled semester! Of course I'll have my first day outfit posted sometime this week (I LOVE it!). Have a fabulous day!
Yours,
sCe

Friday, August 27, 2010

I love Katy Perry's music at the moment. When I first heard her "California Girls" song at the very beginning of the summer, I fell in love. Of course, like all pop songs, it turned into an overplayed annoyance, but I do admit that I absolutely loved it before it was overplayed. I also cannot get enough of "Teenage Dream". I love the beat and the entire energy of the song. Fast forward to right now and I am once again in love with "ET: Futuristic Love" by Katy Perry. All three of these latest songs are such great songs to workout to because they have a good beat. Katy Perry's newest album is coming out August 27th, and I am hoping that the songs will be just as fun and upbeat as the last three I've been jamming out to! Do you love Katy Perry?

Thursday, August 26, 2010

No, no, not that kind of gang! Ralph Lauren's newest ad campaign for their children's line is fantastic. The marketing people of all of these great companies have seriously done their job this time around. First, Tommy Hilfiger launches a great ad campaign, then Brooks Brothers decides to try and market to a younger age group (flawlessly), and now Ralph Lauren takes the cake! Check out this "story" that Ralph Lauren does. It's definitely worth watching and children will love it! It is narrated by Harry Connick Jr. and you can actually purchase the book for $19. Fifteen percent of all sales go to HCJr.'s charity too!. Just like Hilfiger, RL has "characters" and all of these characters have a look to them. My favorite is Katharine. This sure makes me wish they made all of these RL Children's clothes in adult sizes! This season is the cutest I have seen RL in a while! Do you love all of these fun fall ad campaigns? Have a fabulous day!
Yours,
sCe

Wednesday, August 25, 2010

If you have been reading my blog for a while, you will know that one of my absolute favorite clothing brands is Brooks Brothers. After posting about Tommy Hilfiger's ad campaign yesterday, I just couldn't leave my beloved Brooks Brothers out. I am obsessed, and usually love everything they have during any given season. I was looking on their website the other day and spotted their "Back to Campus" ad campaign and I am absolutely in love! Along with the new children's line (Fleece), I think that Brooks Brothers is spot on with their marketing for this season; I am impressed! Brooks Brothers is usually known to be targeted to an older, working set, yet Brooks Brothers is marketing itself to college students and is ready to outfit the little ones as well! You can watch the video and view all of the fall looks. I am loving every single one; this makes me want fall to arrive ASAP! Head over to Brooks Brothers website and look around the Campus section on their website, it makes me want to tailgate right now!

This is one of the women's looks from their fall line. I love the cozy look of the grey! Are there any other college students who absolutely love Brooks Brothers? I might even have to say it ranks above Lilly in my list of brand loyalty! Is anyone else so excited to see what else Brooks Brothers will have in the coming months? I know I sure am! Have a fabulous day!
Yours,
sCe

Tuesday, August 24, 2010

Personally, I have never been a huge fan of Tommy Hilfiger. He has some very nice clothes, and I won't lie and tell you I don't own anything TH. I, in fact, have many TH pieces and love them. However, most of his clothing is very logo oriented. He likes to plaster his logo on anything and everything and I am not a fan of that. I really don't like when any company makes it their priority to draw attention to their logo, and TH is definitely one of the big contenders in this category along with brands such as Tory Burch and Polo (but of course, I still love most of their things).

Well let me tell you, Tommy's latest fall 2010 campaign has caught my eye big time. I know there has been a big buzz about this campaign in the media which is rightfully so, because is is just perfect! The whole campaign is centered around a fictitious, large, preppy family. There are many beautiful pictures of the "family" tailgating with an accoutrement of plaids, trenches, sunglasses, and pops of primary colors.
What do you think of the newest Tommy Hilfiger campaign? Have a fabulous day!
Yours,
sCe

Monday, August 23, 2010

This past weekend, I organized my life, packed it up, and as you are reading this, I am headed down south for my junior year of college! Classes don't start for another week, but I want plenty of time to socialize before getting back to the grind! Of course I am so happy to be heading back to school because I love every minute (yes, even when I'm in the library studying for hours on end, or in a boring lecture) however, I of course miss my family and friends from home and lots of other Pittsburgh things. Here are the things I miss the most while away at school:

Primati Brothers Sandwich. I love the Capicola and the Pittsburgher the best! Of course it's a Pittsburgh institution, and it has been featured on the Food channel and the Travel channel numerous times!

The Palm Place. The best store in Pittsburgh to buy Lilly, VV, Eliza B., and other beautiful clothing!

Mac- The best dog in the entire world. I miss him terribly while I am away and have a large blown up picture of him framed in my room while I'm away!

Going to Steelers games! Preseason started August 14! I miss being able to see my team live in action! No worries, as long as my cable at school gets the games, I watch!

Country Club! So many friends to catch up with and lots of fun eating on the porch, going to the driving range, and laying out by the pool.

The many tunnels and bridges. We are the city with the three rives!

Riding the incline up to Mt. Washington or down to Station Square. We have two inclines, are are they only city in the country that can say that!

The View from Mt. Washington. To me, this is my favorite place in the entire world. So romantic, so nostalgic, so Pittsburgh.

Hands down the best diner. Of course you can't forget the smiley cookies or the grilled stickies!

Of course, most of all, I always miss my parents, sister, grandparents, aunts, uncles, family friends, high school friends, puppy, and neighbors.

A tip for the college ladies: I found that I would get bouts of home sickness during my freshman year. They weren't bad, but from time to time, I of course missed the place that I had lived in for 18 years of my life. To help me be less homesick, I created a folder in my Pictures and labeled it "slideshow". I added all of the pictures that reminded me of home. All of the pictures above are in the folder, plus tons more. I got some off of Google images, some from friends, and some I took myself. Then I set my screensaver to only play these pictures. The pictures would go by when my computer would sit idle, and it was like I had a little slice of home.

If you are headed back to school, I hope you have a safe trip. And for those of you that start classes today, I hope everything goes smoothly! Have a fabulous day!

Thursday, August 19, 2010

I just had to share these two outfits featuring kids clothing. I swear all of you are going to think that all I do is shop at children's stores, but I assure that I own some grown up things! Apologies again for the bad picture quality, I'm not getting a new camera until a few days before I return to school, so the BB pictures will only need to be endured for another week or so.
The first outfit I really love. I got the navy and white striped tank from Gap Kids and really bought it to wear with pajamas or my "jorts" for a really comfortable/casual look. For some reason I was just itching to wear the tank top that day and had a birthday party to attend so I dressed up this very casual tank. I added a white J.Crew skirt, an Ann Taylor Loft silk sash with nautical rope detail for a belt, and madras Tommy Hilfiger espadrilles. To dress it up even more, I put my hair in a side swept, low pony and added soft curls.
The next picture is not really an outfit but another kid's clothing item. I got this from Talbots kids right when they were going out of business and cCm and I both got it for a steal of a deal. I have had this for about 2 years now and love it. It is cut very modestly which I really like because a lot of swimsuit cover ups don't actually cover up! I was walking into the CC in this picture and I most often sport this cover up there because it is without a doubt appropriate to go inside with this over my swimsuit. It almost looks as if it's just a casual dress.You cannot tell in the picture bit the whole thing zips up in the front and has a hood attached. It is made out of soft terrycloth and has ruffle detailing.Where do you find your swimsuit cover ups? Do you ever have problems finding modestly styled cover ups? Share your tips on where to shop!
I hope you all have a fabulous day!
Yours,
sCe

Wednesday, August 18, 2010

Recently I came across Lesley Evers clothing and I immediately bookmarked the site. They are a company based on the West Coast and was created by Lesley herself. She is an artist, and made many of her own dresses. The other mothers on the playground would always compliment her on her clothes, and the rest is history. They offer dresses, skirts, and tunics in several different cuts and styles. Their summer line is on sale now with up to 40% off and their fall line will debut on September 7th.

Lucky for us, Donna, who works for LE is offering 40% off of the full price Jane Skirt! I love the cut and style of this skirt and of course the cute bow on the side. You can choose from several different fabrics. How fun would it be to own one of these skirts since you can only find them in small boutiques across the country and in the UK. To get the 40% off, at checkout, type in the code: swoffer. The code is good through August 28, 2010. Donna also sent me pictures of their upcoming fall line and permitted me to show you all. Here is my favorite:

This is the Riley dress and is definitely my favorite. I am in love with the print. It's bright and bold, but still has a fall feel to it. The cut is also very flattering. I also think it would pair well with many different shoe choices. I could see it with JR's for spring and early fall, heels for a dressier occasion, flats for running errands or attending a luncheon, or brown riding boots in later fall!
Have you ever ordered from this company before? Do you love these dresses and fun fabrics? Have a fabulous day!
Yours,
sCe

Tuesday, August 17, 2010

I cannot even describe this picture. I met Taylor Lautner!!! This was just about as lucky as you can get. My bff kJa and I were headed to the Steelers preseason game against Detroit. We got to our box and were hanging out chatting before the game started, and all of the sudden, someone said, "That guy in the box next to us looks so much like Taylor Lautner". Well that of course got us to look right away and sure enough, it was him!

I am still in absolute shock. The picture above was when we were trying to "discreetly" get a picture of him. I posted about him last month and how he is in Pittsburgh filming a movie called "Abduction" and is here with Lilly Collins (who played Collins in "The Blind Side") and how many of my friends and the whole buzz in Pittsburgh among all of the girls is that Taylor Lautner is here! He has been here since the beginning of June and I am not quite sure, but I think he is staying into September. Anyways, the football game was the second thing on our minds because Taylor Lautner was at most, 5 feet away from us at any given time. The only thing separating us was glass (well, and his bodyguard). I have never met anyone famous before besides Michael Phelps and Lavaar Arrington, and am actually not one to get starstruck. I have to say that I think Taylor Lautner is drop dead gorgeous and completely admit that I was truly starstruck when we spotted him. We were so lucky to have caught him right as the game was ending and he was so nice and took a picture with us and talked to us. Let me tell you, this picture is getting framed ASAP!

I still cannot believe it, but here is Taylor and I! Don't we make such a cute couple ;) Oh and the Steelers won too! Oh what a night to remember!

Monday, August 16, 2010

Oh boy do I have a treat for all of you! Kimberly and Kim over at Just Madras are graciously giving away one of their Alison Madras Clutches AND you can get it monogrammed! I don't think there is any better combination than madras fabric and ruffles with a pretty monogram! I am head over heels for this company; everything they offer from, handbags to apparel, to accessories are absolutely beautiful, I want it all! Of course, they specialize in madras fabric (which is one of my absolute favorite fabrics) and they leave no detail unnoticed. They started in 2007 and import all of their fabrics right from India. I also love that all of their products are made right here in the USA. They have recently added a "Home" section to their website that features: ice buckets, tumblers, trays, and dishes and they are all done in beautiful plaids.
Another thing about Just Madras that I think is so fabulous is that they offer ties and bow ties for both boys and men. Wouldn't a beach wedding with all of the men in matching madras bow ties be perfect? I also love that you can match yourself to any male! You could be going to dinner and carry the Alison Clutch while your dad, boyfriend, grandpa, son, or brother could wear a bow tie, tie or belt that would match perfectly with your clutch. I especially love the idea of mother/son matching because unlike matching with your daughter, matching your son is much harder!

That is a picture of the Montauk bow tie and it is only $45. I think this would be a great gift for a dad, grad, or a little boy's first bow tie! These are my absolute favorites:

Sea Island Hair Tie-- I don't think this could get any cuter! I think this would look so pretty paired with a white or navy shift dress.

Please leave a separate comment for each entry (example: if you do all 3 things, that is a total of 3 comments). The giveaway ends Sunday, August 22nd at midnight and I will announce a winner on Monday August 23rd.

I hope you all have a fabulous day!
Yours,
sCe

*As a side note, if you follow me on Twitter, you know that I met Taylor Lautner on Saturday, a post on that is to come tomorrow! The picture of him and I is in the sidebar to the right!

Friday, August 13, 2010

Has anyone else seen or been to a "luxury" move theater? They are popping up all over the country and most definitely deserve the title "luxurious". Many have full service bars, some even designed by night club designers. Many boast to having leather seating, where you can put your feet up. Feeling hungry? No worries, with a press of a button on your seat, a waiter or waitress will deliver many different upscale food options. Whenever you go to a movie, you always thing to bring a sweater because it can get chilly. Well no worries it you forget your sweater. If you feel a chill, just press the button on your seat again and someone will bring you a blanket and pillow! I haven't seen one of these in Pittsburgh, but if I did, I can tell you I would definitely at least go once! Ticket prices of course are much more expensive that the already pricey $10 a person but it would sure be a fun experience. If you would like to read more about it, click here. Have a fabulous day!
Yours,
sCe

Thursday, August 12, 2010

This is my "blanky". I have had it for 20 years and counting. I might add that it is very well traveled. It has been to the Bahamas several times, the US Virgin Islands, the British Virgin Islands, Canada, all over the east coast, down south, to college, to other colleges, to big cities and small towns; to lakes, oceans, and hotel pools. I post this because I am so very curious to see if any one else still has their "comfort" item from when they were a child. I know many of my girlfriends at school still have theirs, and my sister still has hers and many friends do. This blanket is always on my bed, and if I travel for an extended period of time it comes with me. Now, I wouldn't say I am attached (although 10 or more years ago, you could have said I was). I think that having it has become more of a "tradition" or a habit if anything.

I also remember leaving it at a resort in Florida when I was very young. My parents called the resort and they had not found it. Needless to say, I was heartbroken. But luckily my parents read a book to me very often before bedtime called, Owen. It was about a mouse who had a yellow blanket just like mine (although mine is not so yellow anymore, and not so blanket-like). He took it everywhere with him but he cut his blanket in half just in case something happened. Well, I decided that it would be a smart decision to cut my blanket in half and kept one half at home at all times. So luckily I still have a piece of blanket left! Did anyone else read this book when they were a child?
Have a fabulous day!
Yours,
sCe

Wednesday, August 11, 2010

This is another post dedicated to all of those college ladies who are making the trek back to school sometime this month! If you are an incoming freshman, get excited! For returning ladies, you know the drill! I wanted to share with you all some decorating ideas I've seen and tried myself to make your dorm room feel nice and "homey" and less like a plastic mess or a tacky Walmart ad. Being the oldest "child' in my family and my extended family, I was the first to head off to college. Needless to say, I was clueless. I of course fell for the Target and Walmart ads, and thought I needed all of those junky plastic cases and accessories to "complete" my dorm look. Well, well, well.. I was certainly wrong. I have found so many better quality items at places such as T.J. Maxx, Marshalls, Tuesday Morning, Bed Bath & Beyond, PB Teen, and The Container Store that have helped me turn my dorm room into my home away from home.

I have so many different products such as lotions, hair creams, gels, face wash, gels, removers, etc. that leaving them atop a desk or dresser would look cluttered. I bought a plastic bin from Target and originally housed all of these bottles in there, but I think that putting the products in this box makes for a much more, neater and pretty display. I got this at Target and it works just perfectly for me sitting on my dresser.

I got this little metal "cup" at T.J. Maxx. it has a lid to it, and would also be great for storing cotton balls and swabs. I like this look because it gives you somewhere to keep your toothbrush and toothpaste so you never have to set it down on any surface. I also like it because if it gets messy, you can just wipe it off with water and the brushed metal gives it a little homey feel.

This is a magazine rack, and while it is never this messy while at school, and never filled with random things, it is great to have. This is where I keep all of my textbooks. I can see them and they are always readily available so I can grab them before heading to class or to the library. This is definitely something to bring only if you think you will have room for it. I know in my freshman dorm that there would never have been any room for it but there was plenty of room in my sophomore year dorm.

A shoe rack. Seems obvious, but to me, it wasn't. First semester freshman year, I laid my shoes out in the bottom of my closet... That just became a huge jumbled mess of shoes and it took me forever to pick out a matching pair. This keeps them neat and sorted so you are never looking for a pair. This particular one is Laura Ashley and I got it at T.J Maxx (they usually have a better housewares section as compared to Marshalls). I chose this one because it is long and thing and that is how our closets are in most dorms on my campus. I have two others in my room as well which were both purchased from Target but they are made for full sized doors. I recommend getting the small one so it will be sure to fit on your door. Of course these aren't even 1/4 of the pairs of shoes that I own, but limiting myself to only take shoes that will fit on this rack, really helps to keep me from over packing.

A hutch for atop your desk is almost a necessity. At my school, you can order the desks that are supposed to be made for the top of my school's desk, however, they are not pretty (just pieces of wood screwed together). I turned to the Container Store for the absolute greatest hutch. It is only $69 and the quality couldn't be better. The best part about it: no assembly was required and it folds flat so it is SO easy to store and transport. The picture above are the "bins" that I got to store things in. I got 3 of these bins, and along with the bins, my printer sat on one of the shelves as well. In one bin I store my headband collection, in another bin I store medicine, first aid items, and other miscellaneous items. The third bin I store chargers, cords, computer and electronic accessories, and some other random items. These bins keep me organized and keep the clutter out of sight.

I got this little container at T.J. Maxx. I also have a matching dish as well. In this container I keep cotton balls, pads and swabs for removing make up and nail polish. The matching dish is what I use kind of as a valet tray.

This was a graduation present from a very good friend and I was so in love with it, I went back and got more! It's a collapsible canvas storage bin. It zips and has a Velcro tab to secure that nothing falls out in transport. I think it is so great because it is collapsible so it is very convenient to store. I also love the fact that they are "monogrammable". I find it best that they store sweaters and sweatshirts best and if you don't have enough room to store them under-bed then they are cute enough to store at the bottom of your closet or somewhere visible in your room.

I am obsessed with this! It is a pink and green, wooden painting. It hangs from grosgrain ribbon. Instead of taping pictures to your walls or hanging paper posters, try making your dorm more cozy by adding beautiful frames and touches of personalization.

This is another personal touch that I added.I bought the white wooden "S" from Michaels and bought cute scrap book paper. I traced the S onto the paper and cut it out, and then modge podged the paper onto the wooden letter. I then cut ribbon and voila!

This is a picture from my sophomore year dorm. The picture frames really add a home touch. Instead of making collages with poster-board or crafting something that may turn out badly, stick to pretty frames. The large frame I got from the Better Homes section of Walmart which actually has some pretty items (and cheap too!) and the pink and white frame I bought from Hallmark. And the black case is my jewelry case from my jewelry storage post.
If you would like to see my post from last year with pictures of my sophomore year dorm room click here. Also, for more college packing tips, click here and here.
Little touches are what truly make your college living area feel like home. If you have any college packing tips, ideas, or questions, feel free to leave a comment on this post or email me at summerwind41490@gmail.com. There will be more college tips coming, so keep checking back! Have a fabulous day!
Yours,
sCe

Tuesday, August 10, 2010

I am in love with this top. I got it at Gap Kids believe it or not. It was on sale for around $10. It has removable straps that button on and off and I just love that cute little feature. Really the only reason this top drew my attention in is because I have had these pastel yellow bermudas for a while now and no top ever looks right with this particular shade of yellow. Well, this top is the perfect cut for the shorts and hosts the perfect colors. If you've been reading my blog for a while then you know how I love buying things from the kids section (even though I feel ridiculous when I do). Have you ever found anything really cute that you just had to have from a kids store? Have a fabulous day!
Yours,
sCe

Monday, August 9, 2010

Aren't all of these pink spaces adorable! I love the bathroom with the pink cabinets, how fun. The hot pink bedroom is a "Barbie" room! I don't think I'd like it for myself but it's fun to imagine! Do you have any pink spaces in your home? How do you incorporate pink into your decor? Have a fabulous day!
Yours,
sCe